Playing With Fire: Artwork Made from Heat

In the Uppercase magazine this month, I was reading all about artists who work with fire and heat. I found the process fascinating. One artist described it as soothing. Some said the results are completely unpredictable. They added though that the results were often worth it and are “absolutely beautiful”.

This reminded me, more simply, of the fire pit my husband put in this summer. As my daughters and I were trying to light the first fire of the year, we laughed at the way the fire would get big, then fizzle out. It was a rather cold day and the wood may have been a tad too wet. So we added kindle and kept at it. Sometimes the fire would get bigger than expected and we’d pull our arms away to safety. My daughter would yell at the fire, “Come on! Why aren’t you staying?” We giggled at our lack of survival skills. But there was something comforting about the fire once it was lit. The glow, the warmth, and the sounds all made it worth it. I can see how working with fire and heat would create a feeling of comfort and be soothing.

I thought I’d share a few photos of interest from the links mentioned in the magazine.

Metal Smithing

Wood Burning Techniques

Morgan’s artwork has a message behind it. Here’s just one, but go scope out her website with the link above.

24% of those who made near-lethal suicide attempts decided to kill themselves less than five minutes before the attempt, and 70% made the decision within an hour of the attempt. (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Quilting & Fabric Dyeing

They worked on a project together that involved using goldenrod to dye the fabric to create a quilt. They heated the fabric to prepare the dye, as well as steeping the goldenrod over a hot stove so flowers would give up their colors to be used in the fabric. The actual photos are in the magazine, but here’s a photo from Keep House (Alissa’s company) that shows the end result of another quilt she created.

Summary

I enjoyed reading all about these ladies (and many others if you have the magazine) who have used heat and warmth to create special pieces. I love the fact that every piece comes out different and that it’s not some cookie cutter art piece. I’m not sure I’m ready to play with fire, but after reading about it and seeing the results, it’s really tempting! Other pieces in the magazine included women who worked with beeswax, crayons, steam irons, pastels, and other metals. I enjoy seeing what others are doing and their processes in creating.

The one thing I took from reading about these different styles is that I need to find my own niche in creating. It’s easy to do what everyone else is doing, and that’s fine when you are learning. But eventually, an artist should find their own style and that’s what I plan on doing.

**For more creative ideas and to engage your curiosity, you can get a subscription to Uppercase by going to their website.

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My name is Elle and I own Everyday Elle. I create digital printables and resources for everyday use. I offer design and Wordpress tutorials and give away free stuff to my subscribers. I'm passionate about helping you with your creative projects.